Marco was very attentive throughout our experience at Fogo. We were a group of six celebrating a birthday. He checked in with us frequently to make sure food/drinks were coming out at the right cadence. Thanks for topping it off with complimentary dessert for the birthday celebration. read more

The food was fine.. but be WARNED a guy comes around with a bunch of containers of shrimp. He asks if you'd like one and doesn't say a word about cost. At this point you know about the guys bringing around all the various meats you can eat.. included in the bill. So I said sure. He sets it down without a word and moves to the next tables. just like the other meat guys. Then the bill came. HOLY CRAP! 28 bucks for 6 freaking shrimp! that's like 5 bucks PER SHRIMP. don't be fooled and don't be too polite to ask. they are trying to do a 'gotcha' read more

Went here for our anniversary date. Dinner time to be exact. Fogo at N Lasalle. We expected so much since this is our first time. Quality of the meat was just okay. What I liked was the Pichana, Ribeye, Top Sirloin. mThe buffet was also just okay. Full of veggies but tooke them forever to refill the pineapples and watermelon feta. Meh. Meat served were over-charred and servers even bother to ask you for your preferred doness but still would give out over-charred meat. We were waiting for the pork ribs but sadly, it didn't graze our table. Also read another reviewer that the tables were so packed thAt guests can hardly squeeze in to get to the buffet table. People were smashed in. Lastly, i felt robbed with the tip as our server didn't even manage to check on us. Receptionist seated as promptly and we were asked if it's our first time there. Again, I expected alot but the receptionist was just in a hurry. Our server, again did not even bother check on us. Bill took a while to be given to us. Asked about it twice. Until I asked another server for our check. Will we come back? Maybe. But please fix your service. read more

Fogo de Chão - Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food was absolutely amazing the steaks are so good! Service was excellent! Restaurant was beautifully decorated.

Came here after a play at the Nederlander Theatre. Jose was amazing. Very attentive, I could feel him checking our table out often to make sure we were getting meat if our cards were on green. I was waiting for the lamb chops and asked him if they had any (I wasnt sure, I only ever been to Texas de Brazil) and he made sure people brought them out right away. First ones were a bit overcooked but he fixed it and made sure they brought out medium rare ones! He was on it! He made sure we had a dessert to take home, (my boyfriend's sister had just gotten engaged) It was amazing! Jose if you're reading this I hope you got the tip we gave! (We paid in cash) Oscar was a sweetheart too. Made jokes about us being able to stay until close and to stay as long as we'd like. "Take a nap if you want, Oscar will wake you up" He was amazing hahaha read more

Had a very mediocre first experience here today. Took my friend here for a birthday lunch. We both did the full churrasco experience. The meat service was extremely slow despite having our cards on "green" the whole time. In the two hours we were dining, we were maybe offered 4-5 different meats. Mind you, we dined at noon so it wasn't super busy, and we were skipped a handful of times for some reason. The meat we did receive was extremely tough and lacked flavor (the garlic "steak" was inedible as it was bouncy and tough). My friend and I were also underwhelmed with the market table. While the service we received was truly amazing (10/10), I don't think I would dine here again. Happy we tried though! read more

We visited for our son's wedding reception. The food was great, and the staff interacted with the guests so well. The restaurant is beautiful and the reception was perfect. read more

This was by far the worst service we have ever had at a Fogo de Chao. We have eaten at several of these restraints across the country and chose this one to celebrate a belated anniversary dinner in Chicago. The service was so slow. We were not offered many meats through our visit that was over two hours long. This used to be a place that we would get dressed up for a nice dinner and it was so far from that. I'm so disappointed that this is what Fogo de Chao has become. We had many options in the downtown Chicago area and will be choosing differently the next time we are in town. So dis appointed. read more

I've been to Fogo in many locations and states and I would say the Chicago location was one of the most disappointing. We made a reservation online and still it took them forever to seat us and the staff at the front was really dismissive and rolling their eyes at us. The apathetic lady asked us if we wanted to talk to a manager and he was somewhat apologetic and got us to a table right away. Definitely the nice fogo salad bar I expected, but getting meat out to the table seem to take forever. They seemed more interested in pushing drinks or shrimp cocktail that you'd think would be part of the price (but you'd be wrong and I was glad we asked). We had to ask several times to get meat to start coming to our table, and they were stingy with bringing the filet around. We definitely had to ask a couple of people a few times to get it. It did seem like there was a lot of staff wandering around but not being super helpful to us. By the time the bill came, it also took them forever to pick it up and ring it up. This city is full of great steakhouses but I was overall disappointed with this experience. read more

Forgo de Chao never disappoints. The ambiance is always so nice. Very comfortable setting and it's not too loud. A great place to bring your friends or family. Just make sure you save room to have a hearty meal. The salad bar is always a hit. It included seasonal salads , vegetables, importer cheeses, fruit, and different soups. Once you're seated at the table they bring complimentary mashed potatoes and bread. The very second you turn your card from red to green...the signature cuts of meat start rolling in. Lots of different choices to choose from. From steak to chicken to pork, there is a wide variety offered. I will say, they were on top of things. I never had to wait for the next cut of meat to be offered. I love that! read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love love love fogo de chao, if you want an all you can eat experience that's centered on meat this is the place for you! Pros: Atmosphere Food The meat Valet Cons: Parking And also be for warned that the drinks they pass around aren't included, it's something you have to pay for separately read more

Fogo de Chão - Parfait was exquisite - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was amazing. Waiters were really fun, friendly, and attentive. We got a free creme brûlée cheesecake that was top-notch! The sangria pitcher was amazing. The ambiance was nice. We really enjoyed the lamb and ribeye most. The lamb melted in the mouth and was seasoned to absolute perfection. The filet mignon was a let down -- too fatty, not well seasoned, and slightly overcooked. I had to spit it out. Other than that, it's definitely worth the visit! read more

Fogo de Chão - Creme brûlée cheesecake with raspberry - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When I say the whole experience was amazing! I've never been in restaurant like this and I loved every bit of it. The food was really fresh! The bottle of wine was amazing! and the waiter was very attentive! I loved every bit of it! I will def be back again! If you are in Chicago you need to check them out! read more

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Went here with a few friends for a 8pm reservation. We arrived on time and still had to wait about 15 minutes to be sat, and when we got a table it was in almost the far back left corner of the farthest back room. Service was not what id expect from a restaurant that charges you 66.50. When the 4 of us got up to go to the market table, we came back to a shrimp cocktail sitting on our table, along with the mashed potatoes, plantains, cheese bread ect that no one had ordered or been asked about. We figured that the shrimp came with dinner so we ate it. There was also a man walking around with 3 inch tall sample looking margaritas asking if anyone wanted one, we assumed these were some sort of sample so we all indulged (in my opinion, they were a pretty nasty margarita) After finally getting the bill, we discovered that the margaritas were not complimentary and cost each of us $16.50! Not only that, but the mystery shrimp also ended up on our tab at a whopping $27! I asked for the shrimp to be taken off as we never agreed to that charge, but since we all did say yes to those drinks we begrudgingly paid for that. This was not my first experience with fogo or Brazilian bbq, yet it left an incredible sour and nasty taste in my mouth. These are predatory business practices and I did not walk away feeling satisfied or ever wanting to step foot inside a fogo again. Chama Guacha is much better and id highly recommend it over this lousy excuse for a restaurant read more

I have ALWAYS loved Fogo de Chao, but the one time it was disappointing just so happened to be on my birthday yesterday. The ambience is always great, and the salad bar is always great as well. Food is placed perfectly, tastes fresh, and tastes good. However, the disappointing part came, and it just so happened to be what was supposed to be the star of the show. When the gauchos came around with the rods of meat, they brought top sirloin. We immediately were brought the cheese filled bread, and also plantains. The mashed potatoes came to the table after we went to the salad bar and they were very good. However, more gauchos came, with....too sirloin...then...another gaucho came...top sirloin again. Then, another gaucho came, and you guessed it, top sirloin! The same gauchos were coming to the table, so why the hell are we still getting top sirloin time and time again???!!! We had cheaper cuts like chicken legs and thighs, come to our table, but it wasn't until mid dinner that we got offered filet mignon and bacon wrapped chicken, as well as Parmesan crusted pork. It really irritated me that there was some sort of game with the meats to try and be cheap. You're supposed to have close to 16 cuts of meat. All 4 of us paid for the FULL experience, and got a quarter of the service. With tax it was near 80 bucks a person. We had to ask for lamb chops, and they took so long to come out we just said forget it. This was not a memorable experience for us. The garlic picanha, when it finally came to the table, was flavorless, no salt at all...very mediocre, and barely any garlic flavor at all when it usually has amazingly strong garlic flavor..I wasn't happy!! You offer all of these meats and we mostly had top sirloin come to our table. None of us are stupid. Now I first liked Fogo years ago because I was impressed with all of the cuts of meat, and of course the salad bar, but when you're blatantly being cheap, and only offering the cheaper meats but at a higher cost, I have a MAJOR problem with that! Not to mention. The ticket was brought to the table. The gratuity was going to be around 54 bucks. The bill needed to be split, and once it was split it was brought back with the SAME gratuity percentage. Fogo, you're losing my trust and my faith to being a stellar place. I'm a foodie and I know my stuff around culinary cuisine. This was on my birthday, and you failed me. I was not happy. I hope you get better with your service and you ALL need to be on the same page! It was disorganized, and more selections needed to come out. Not one time before last night had I EVER needed to ask for a different cut. Stop trying to cheapskate people. You already raised your prices over 20 bucks. If you're going to price gouge, then you need to meet those demands with impeccable service! Not sure after 10 years of going here, that I will be back...that's awful and sad to say! BE BETTER!!! read more

We went to Fogo for a birthday dinner on Saturday night and as expected it was busy evening. We had a large group and since we made reservations we got seated immediately. It was hard to maneuver through some of the area since I felt the seatings were way to close to other tables. I don't know how some of the servers did it. Some of the meat were overly salty or seasoned which I think doesn't do any justice to a good piece of steak. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the meat. read more

We went for Saturday brunch in Chicago and we'll be back! Great atmosphere, high quality food, amazing salad bar, and Carlito went above and beyond to make sure our experience was the best. read more

The strategy here is a winner: hose you down in excellent foods so fast that you leave fully satisfied, will pay whatever you are asked, and free the table up for the next seating. And it works. It works in spades. Delicious and delightful. Don't miss: grilled zucchini, hummus, pao de queso (cheese bread appetizers brought to the table), polenta, plantains, cheesecake. Also: meats. read more

Took my son here for his birthday, service is quick at first but then just stop. The food was horrible. You either got burnt meat or raw meat , no in-between. I love their lamb chops mostly the reason I go.. I was given raw lamb chops , burnt on outside n raw In the middle.I asked the manager if I can get 1 cooked med well, he said yes, but never brought it to me. asked for a drink waited 15 min for it. I've been here 4 times and my last 2 trips here were horrible.Now I remember why we hadn't been there in a while..I don't know if it's new owners but it's shitty for the price..$300.00 dinner and you have to beg for food after your 1st piece. read more

Had a celebratory holiday dinner here with the family last night & the place is awesome! Service was impeccable. Food is AMAZING! If you're not familiar with the concept, they keep coming by with different types of grilled meats on long skewers & slice the meat right onto your plate. Can't say enough great things about this place. Well worth the money. The garlic steak, lamb & fried cheese were so delicious! Pace yourself and don't get overfull to avoid the meat sweats! read more

Fogo de Chão - Live Brazilian music. - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For over a decade, Fogo de Chão has been a cherished dining spot for my family and me, a place where numerous lunches and dinners have unfailingly impressed. Its reputation for top-notch Brazilian steakhouse cuisine had made it our go-to for special occasions. However, our most recent visit, after a six-month hiatus, presented a series of letdowns that have left us questioning its standing as our favored dining choice. Historically, the highlight of Fogo de Chão has been its array of succulent meats, particularly the house specialty, picanha. This cut, once a symbol of culinary craftsmanship, now bore an uncharacteristic odd almost watery texture and a lackluster flavor, a stark contrast from its former glory. I think this was largely from the cut not being properly salted. Another cut, which I believe was the garlic steak, was remarkably tough, to a point where I couldn't get through it with the steak knife they provided. I even playfully asked one of the waiters "I challenge you to cut this meat with this knife". It honestly felt more like soft tree bark or partially fossilized cork. That said, they took it away, and I tried another cut later, which was much more palatable. More alarming was a pervasive bitter "fuel" taste across various cuts of meat, an off-putting flavor that lingered for hours after leaving the restaurant. I've come across this flavor sometimes with failed cooking projects on my own, usually when I've had a creosote buildup on my grill. Either way, it's not acceptable in a restaurant of this caliber. This was not a solitary observation; my children as well noted and were discomfited by this unusual taste, which is a stark deviation from the rich smoky flavors we experienced in the past here. This is not something a good cook would miss. The bitter taste is distinctive and intense, and terribly off-putting. Furthermore, the attention to detail which was once a hallmark of their service seemed to have waned, particularly in the presentation of their side dishes. The polenta and caramelized banana, previously served with an almost artistic flair on individual plates, now found themselves unceremoniously heaped together, a visible testament to a decline in the care once given to every aspect of the dining experience. It sucks to think about but these changes seem to hint at a strategic pivot, perhaps a corporate-level decision to economize on quality and presentation without adjusting prices, which have remained relatively consistent over the years. While I understand the pressures of maintaining a profitable business, it's disheartening to witness the cost-cutting measures overshadowing the culinary excellence and meticulous presentation that once defined Fogo de Chão. In conclusion, the recent visit to Fogo de Chão was a stark departure from the high standards we had come to expect and cherish. The compromised quality of the food, the peculiar taste issues, and the evident decline in attention to plating detail have significantly dulled the sheen of what was once a dining jewel. It's with a heavy heart that I consider looking elsewhere for our family's celebratory dinners, hoping that this feedback might someday herald a return to the Fogo de Chão we once knew and loved. While we may be looking elsewhere for now, I really hope they bounced back, and that I can revisit Fogo de Chão in the future, after I hear of a return to the high standards we so fondly remember. read more

The food was fine, no complaints especially for the price, but the ambiance was severely lacking. It was dark, but not the romantic kind; more literally not enough light kind. The tables were too close together and the guests were rowdy with lots of young kids and babies crying. Not the best place for a date. read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Poor service now and days. They do. Ot come around the table anymore. you have to ask for water, ask for meats but are being charged for full churassco prices! My family and I have been eating fogo for 15 years and can tell you service has defiantly changed! We barely get meat cuts, when we ask for meats they don't come around or send them. Honestly, very disappointed, I have gone to this location on two different dates this month and both times the service was not what it used to be to be. Paid over 490 for my family and I and barely ate meats, we had to ask for the plantains, yucca, water and etc. it was just ridiculous, I norma do not write reviews but they did horrible twice within 2 weeks. read more

The service was impeccable--attentive, friendly, and always ensuring our table had everything we needed. The variety of meats served was outstanding, each cut cooked to perfection (They will ask you how you like your meat cooked and give you the perfect cut for your palette) and bursting with flavor! The salad bar and sides were equally impressive, complementing the meal perfectly. Bread, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, fried potato sticks & sweet fried bananas come free with the experience, along with the salad bar. read more

Fogo de Chão - Malbec, Alamos Mendoza, Argentina - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall the food is good (+), the ambiance is nice (+). But the service is sub-par (-). I'd make it 3.5 stars in reality. I've dined at several Brazilian Steakhouses (CA, NV, FL, etc) so I generally know what to expect. Waited around 40 minutes to get someone's attention to get our bill. We never had a "designated" server. Just a random assortment of staff, which was okay for the most part but if you needed specialty service (drinks, desserts, the bill) it was a challenge to get anyone's attention. We did come on Christmas Eve so I'll take that into consideration, but in general the food was good, my dessert was nice, but the service was lacking. read more

Came for my birthday first time here. Although I went to Texas De Brazil when they still had a Chicago location. Same concept. The meat kept on coming, they take care of you. It was packed in there. I start off with the meats so not too load up on the salad bar stuff which is great in it's own right of course. Only got a few pictures because I was focused on enjoying the consistent stream of meat that came my way. The whole team was great would especially like to adknowledge my server Paloma. read more

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Nice BBQ served off of skewers. It's very expensive of course, but the quality of the food is good and they came by fairly often. Nice buffet of side dishes and salad. Service was pretty good. My only complaint is that they constantly try to sell you add ons- they'll come by with a tray of prawn cocktails or shots and offer them to you, but not mention it's all extra. Good experience overall though. read more

Although I did not get a chance to eat at Fogo de Chao, I do not plan to go back. My friends and I booked a reservation for New Years Eve for 12. We arrived on time to check in, and found the entryway FULL of people. Full to the point that you could not walk through without pushing others. This was an extreme fire hazard and unacceptable. They were about an hour behind in reservations, and did not have a concrete time of when we would be able to be sat. Needless to say, we left and ate elsewhere. Happy New Year! read more

Amazing! The service Carlitos showed my family was nothing short of amazing! Our server Stacey provided such great service we really never needed anything, she was just so great and made it happen! The conversation and humor they provided was a warm welcome on a cold Chicago evening. Food was superb and the meat selection was off the chain! Restaurant was cozy, with a beautiful Christmas tree in the dining room and perfectly tidy! We were celebrating our daughter's naval graduation and the staff here made the evening that much more special. Thank you Stacey & Carlitos and the entire staff we definitely will be back! read more

Came here with my boyfriend for a weekday date night. It was a first time for both of us, so we came in very excited. There were certainly highlights: welcoming staff, tasty drinks, and the marketplace spread. However, we were most disappointed by the star of the show, which was the meat. It took a while for the servers to come around to our table at first. Once they finally did, we were almost consistently served meat that was burnt on the outside and raw on the inside, despite asking for medium rare. Gave me the impression that they were a bit overwhelmed and rushing to cook the meat? It made the meat nearly inedible. I felt bad for wasting and in hindsight I wish we would have said something at the time. After reflecting on the experience, my boyfriend and I agreed that it was a fun experience, but the steaks themselves were not worth the price. read more

Well, it's Fogo! I don't think that I could ever say anything bad about Fogo. The only factor is the service level, which this place did just fine! The meats all came out decently often with variety. And when I made a special request for a rare cut of lamb, they kept offering it to me proactively, which I really appreciated. Their salad bar was also exceptionally stocked with nothing running out while I was there. As always, I'll be returning to Fogo, it might not be this one, but I look forward to my next visit regardless! read more

It was definitely a different dining experience when seated. They come around with different types of meat on a sword and then you can get what you want. You have a little card to turn over when you want more meat and you turn on the other side if you don't want any more . You can have all the meat you want I would just like to see more warm sides.. They have a salad bar with a few things on. It had good soup would definitely go back and try it again. read more

"Salad bar" is definitely a level up! We have tried the Taste of Brazil but for me .. the salad bar is more than enough. Service is great, Atmosphere is trendy but a little crowded and noisy for me! Join their club.. it's very rewarding! read more

Service is fast and good. The food is always tasty and you definitely get your monies worth if you stick to eating a lot of protein. read more

Fogo de Chão - Salad bar before the meat selections - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Omar was our server he was really good and provided us with everything. He was really good with refills and bringing everything.

I ordered delivery. I requested my meat rare and it was beyond well done. Even the chicken was dry and overcooked. Absolutely terrible and not edible. Very surprising as I've eaten at Figo in other cities and it was great. This place is awful. read more

Sometimes you just need some meat and Fogo de Chao certainly delivers. Yes it's a chain, yes it's expensive. But it certainly fills the cravings for red meat, sausage, and a not so healthy salad bar. Our reservation was at 6:45 and we arrived at 6:30 which seemed to be the sweet spot to avoid the cattle car crowds that showed up as we were leaving and to get continuous meat service at the table (we noticed they slowed down as the meal started to end despite neighboring tables being relatively newly seated. I will be back. Chicago has some great steakhouses that shouldn't be overlooked but as a local I can justify the indulgent attraction of a chain all you can eat place. #CandiedBacon read more

Had a great experience with our bartender/server Nicole! Very accommodating and attentive.

I'm breaking my "no negative restaurant reviews during the pandemic" rule to write this review. Fogo de Chao does not care about its customers. It's a corporation focused only on making money--but not actually providing the experiences that their marketing claims they offer. Fogo de Chao ruined Thanksgiving for well more than 100 people--as you can read in other reviews. Our experience was similar to others here, so I won't get into the long story. However, we were NEVER seated for our 7:30 reservation. We were told several times our table would be ready in 45 minutes, and they would text us when it was. They never texted. We ended up at the open-late McDonald's across the street at the end of the night. That was our Thanksgiving dinner. But this isn't just about Thanksgiving--the bigger message here is Fogo de Chao is a terribly run organization, undeserving of your time and hard-earned money. The restaurant had MANY opportunities to make the situation for hundreds of people (crammed into the waiting area during a pandemic) better, and it chose not to. Here are some things it could have, but did NOT, do: 1. Alert reservation holders ahead of time. The restaurant knew early in the afternoon that it was overbooked and wouldn't be able to accommodate everyone's reservations. At that point, it should have started calling people and alerting them to the issue--giving us time to make other plans on Thanksgiving. With most of the city closed, prep time would have been much appreciated and would have certainly assuaged heartbreak for many people. 2. Be honest upfront. It shouldn't have lied to people checking in for their reservations. As you'll see in other reviews, hundreds of people were waiting. We were ALL told by the front desks hosts that our wait was 45 minutes--and that never changed. People with 6pm reservations were told 45 minutes. People with 8pm reservations were also told 45 minutes. An hour after you were told 45 minutes, you were again told 45 minutes. 45 minutes was a lie. The truth was Fogo de Chao knew the wait was HOURS and that in some cases, people would never be seated (i.e., our party of 3). They had an opportunity to come clean, and they didn't take it. 3. Provide a list of restaurants close by that were open. Some people waiting were out-of-towners and others unfamiliar with the city. With so many places closed on Thanksgiving, a quick Google search and printout of restaurants in the area that were open would have gone a long way toward partially saving Thanksgiving dinner. There were two hostesses standing at the podium like robots saying "Your wait will be 45 minutes ... 45 minutes ... 45 minutes." One of them easily could have taken 30 minutes to create a list, print out 200 copies and hand them to people trying to check in for a table they would never get. When I asked one of the hostesses if she knew of any restaurants around the area that might be serving, she sneered at me, rolled her eye and chuckled "No" ... as if I were insane for even asking, adding insult to injury. 4. Provide snacks to the waiting crowd. People were starving, had nowhere else to go and captive to horrible circumstances of Fogo de Chao's making. The restaurant could have easily sent out food for the people waiting. Designate one server to the crowd waiting and set up a table to place easy snacks. There was plenty of room along the west wall to make this happen and plenty of options from the market table to put out. 5. Offer incentives to those waiting. At the very least, Fogo de Chao should have tried to win back our business by giving folks waiting gift cards to return at a later date on their dime. They did nothing of the sort. Please do NOT believe the responses you are seeing from Fogo de Chao on these reviews. Despite saying it, they are not actually reaching out to angry people--it's just for show. They asked me on Facebook for my phone number (at the time of this review, three days ago) so they could follow up to discuss this horrible situation--and just like the text to say our table was ready that never came, no one from Fogo de Chao has attempted to reach out to me. There are SO MANY wonderful restaurants in the city and in the River North neighborhood. Please support businesses that care about their customers, the experiences they provide and the food they serve. Fogo de Chao is undeserving of your precious time, attention and money. read more

Fogo de Chão - Small snapshot of the waiting area Thanksgiving 2021. Many people with reservations waited hours or never got seated at all. - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I know fogo de chao doesn't seem like a "hidden gem" per say, but I didn't know this until recently: they have a market stand aka a buffet where weekday lunch is $15! They don't Have much meat, but they do have cured meats to create a charcuterie board and smoked salmon. They also have chicken salad as a meat option. My favorite surprise was the TikTok viral pink pineapple that they had :). When you get the market table option only, they'll also ask you whether you wants sides like mashed potatoes and fried bananas. The fried bananas came piping hot and crispy!! Highly recommend this option if you don't eat much meat or want the fogo experience without the fogo experience, if you know what I mean!! Was in and out on a Monday. read more

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